Adjustable slipper.



PATENTED SEPT. 18,1906.

. G. U. BOSLEY.

ADJUSTABLE SLIPPER. AYPLIGATION FILED JAN.2.1904.

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CHARLES U. BOSLEY, OF LEBANON, KENTUCKY.

ADJUSTABLE SLIPPER.

.Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906. l

Application filed January 2, 1904. Serial No. 187,569

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Be it known that I, CHARLES U. BosLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Lebanon, in the county of Marion and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Adj-ustable Slipper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes or slippers intended more particularly for employment upon corpses, and has for its object to provide an automatically-adjustable device of this character which may be fitted to different sizes of feet and which will adapt itself to the shrinking or swelling of the same.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is shown the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention in practical shape; but it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes and modifications may be made in the construction Without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is therefore reserved of making all the changes as to form, proportions, and other minor modifications which may fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claim made therefor.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the improved devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a trans- I verse section of the same.

The improved device consists of the sole portion formed with the outer member 10 and inner member 11 and the vamp portion 12, connected to the sole portion in the ordinary manner. The sole portion ends at the commencement of the heel portion 13, and the counter portion 14 is attached only to the heel portion with its sides 15 16 extended forwardly and overlapping the rear portion of the vamp. The sole portion is provided with a longitudinal cavity 17 between the members 10 11, forming the sole, and opening rearwardly for receiving a tongue 18, extending forwardly from the heel portion and slidable therein. By this simple arrangement it is obvious that the heel and counter portions are longitudinally adjustable relative to the sole and vamp portions, whereby the shoe or slipper may be readily adjustable to diHerent sizes of feet without detracting from the appearance, as the overlapping counter and vamp prevents any opening appearing between the parts. f

To preclude the possibility of the parts becoming separated and also to cause automatic operation between them, a spring member, preferably an elastic member 19, will be connected between the tongue 18 and the sole portion within the cavity 17. By this means the two portions will be yieldably maintained in their closed position and will automatically adjust themselves to the different sizes of feet to which they are applied.

The tongue member 18, extending into the cavity 17, is entirely concealed therein, and the elastic member is likewise entirely concealed when in use. Hence the shoe or slipper will present the same appearance at all parts of its adjustments and will present an equally neat appearance at all times, no matter what size it may be caused to assume.l

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that a slot is formed in the end portion of the tongue 16 and that the end of the elastic overlaps the forward portion of the tongue and is then inserted through the slot and under the tongue. By connecting the parts in this manner they bind upon each other and will not become accidentally disconnected.

It will be noted that the elastic is connected to the sole-lifts close to the front portion of the vamp, where it is interposed between the lifts, and any longitudinal pull upon the elastic caused by the elongation of the slipper will be transmitted directly to the toe ofsaid slipper and will cause said elastic to stiffen the sole of the slipper, because drawn taut therein.

The parts may be manufactured from any quality of material and be of any desired style and made in as many sizes as required.

By this simple arrangement undertakers and funeral directors can carry an extensive stock of goods'in a comparatively small storage space, as about two general sizes, one for children and one for adults, will be required, thus materially reducing the expense not only for goods, but likewise saving materially in storage space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A slipper comprising a lower sole-lift, a vamp having inwardly-turned edges secured upon the edges of said lift; an upper sole-lift IOO IIO

secured u on the edges of the vamp, said edges hol ing the lifts apart to form an uninterrupted space therebetween and throughout the lengths thereof; a heel, a counter thereon overlapping the sides of the vamp, a tongue extending over the heel and having a transverse slot therein adjacent the free end v thereof, said tongue being slidabl'y mounted and fitting snugly within the space between the lifts and the edges of the Vamp, said counters extending beyond the end of the tongue to overlap the Vamp when the tongue is in position between the lifts, and an elastic strip secured against the toe portion of the vamp and between the lifts and extending lon itudinally of the space between said lifts, sai strip extending through the slot in the tongue and one en clamped against a portion of the tongue.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Inyown I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES U. BOSLEY.

Witnesses:

T. M. ESTES, JOHN G. BARR. 

